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Sympthsical

(10,950 posts)
46. I understand that
Mon Mar 16, 2026, 05:29 PM
17 hrs ago

But I imagine that student isn't every student either.

I returned to college in my 40s for a career change. I've seen what students nowadays can be like. It's . . . concerning. But this place can get a little, "the problem with youngins today . . ." and I wanted to provide some balance to the equation.

I have some solid professors. My current OB professor is so knowledgeable and eager to share.

But I have, in the past five years, encountered an increasing number of professors who offload teaching tasks to technology out of laziness, don't really engage in developing the critical thinking skills of their students (the Power Point People), or see a course as a series of boxes they check to say they did it so they can get paid.

As an adult student with years of experience in professional spaces, I have an extremely jaundiced view of some of these individuals, and I'm not afraid to address them as peers (which I know some of them do not appreciate).

I just wanted to counterpoint DU's strong "Kids today!" lean with a "Yes, but adults raised them," acknowledgement. I'm an older Millennial, and it got wearisome long ago to see elders getting all snitty about Millennials and Gen Z without acknowledging they're the products of the system the adults put into place.

If an 18 year old shows at up to college barely able to read, write, or think critically - and I've met plenty in recent years - is that really on the kid at that point? Someone has been letting that slide for years.

Recommendations

2 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Probably too busy texting to listen to you. Ritabert 20 hrs ago #1
Exactly. Ray Bruns 1 hr ago #61
"Yes. No. Check Your Class Notes." ColoringFool 20 hrs ago #2
This, right here. relayerbob 19 hrs ago #20
Tell them: the most important thing you need to learn from this class... Wounded Bear 20 hrs ago #3
So frustrating. Traildogbob 20 hrs ago #4
They don't have to buy a report. All they have to do is use a free dumbing-down tool from one of highplainsdem 19 hrs ago #15
Wow. Traildogbob 19 hrs ago #22
Teaching is challenging, and an existentially important profession. What the AI companies have done to it is highplainsdem 18 hrs ago #29
AI is one of the most frightening developments out there right now. COL Mustard 18 hrs ago #30
I can relate. Conjuay 53 min ago #64
The AI companies have leaned very hard into promoting AI "democratizing" talent - letting people highplainsdem 24 min ago #65
Write them back, saying... Totally Tunsie 20 hrs ago #5
Except be president. ananda 19 hrs ago #10
But only if he has a multimillionaire father who is willing to bankroll all his failures! 🤣 ShazzieB 18 hrs ago #33
I heard an interview several years ago on NPR mcar 20 hrs ago #6
and "I wasted my whole weekend studying when I could have been having a good time!" erronis 19 hrs ago #8
Yep mcar 19 hrs ago #19
I actually recall that when I tutored back in the 70s GenThePerservering 19 hrs ago #13
And "teaching to the test" where tests have become easier to grade - multiple choices, etc. erronis 19 hrs ago #21
I went to a Jesuit uni in the late 70s mcar 18 hrs ago #34
I was always glad when a test or quiz was postponed. LisaM 19 hrs ago #24
"I will teach you to think." BarbD 18 hrs ago #41
Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but it's the students' fault MadameButterfly 17 hrs ago #48
Sometimes it isn't about learning vs memorizing... it's about recall OhioBlue 15 hrs ago #53
Well, sorry you didn't get to raise your grade MadameButterfly 8 hrs ago #60
"...do I have to go out of my way to find the research?" CBHagman 20 hrs ago #7
and his definition of "go out of my way to find the research" is probably ask chatGPT. (n/t) thesquanderer 19 hrs ago #17
Since many students gravitate to AI's as their first source of information ... SomewhereInTheMiddle 8 hrs ago #59
Tell the student they can get five points of credit on the assignment... littlemissmartypants 19 hrs ago #9
But don't hold your breath while waiting SheltieLover 19 hrs ago #27
Exactly. I taught at a state college in NC. littlemissmartypants 9 hrs ago #56
When I was in Catechism class and I failed to pay attention I got a ruler across the hand. Jacson6 19 hrs ago #11
Brace yourself. There's more of them coming up through GPV 19 hrs ago #12
How sad. LoisB 19 hrs ago #14
I quit teaching after 15 years because of stuff like this perdita9 19 hrs ago #16
That must be BEYOND frustrating OddMom20 19 hrs ago #18
I've never been a teacher.. bless every one of you mountain grammy 19 hrs ago #23
Also retired prof here... flor-de-jasmim 19 hrs ago #25
Answer email with message to refer to their class notes. SheltieLover 19 hrs ago #26
Classes need Helper Captains in the class to prod the sheep along bucolic_frolic 18 hrs ago #28
You didn't mention whether the student was male or female. I would guess it was a male. flashman13 18 hrs ago #31
Yes, a male. nt Coventina 18 hrs ago #37
"...don't be an ignorant creep..." is a good place to start. 3catwoman3 18 hrs ago #43
Agree completely Grim Chieftain 18 hrs ago #32
You didn't say if the student could read. Sneederbunk 18 hrs ago #35
Let me provide some balance here Sympthsical 18 hrs ago #36
I am not that kind of professor AT ALL. Coventina 18 hrs ago #39
I understand that Sympthsical 17 hrs ago #46
It's not every student, but a lot of them. Coventina 17 hrs ago #50
I love your asignment! Mossfern 17 hrs ago #49
Thanks! You're so kind! Yes, I'm an art history professor. Coventina 16 hrs ago #51
Hmmm, let's see BlueSpot 12 hrs ago #55
A little Trump in the making? peppertree 18 hrs ago #38
Smacks of effort, man. cab67 18 hrs ago #40
The student's nose is probably superglued to their phone, so they missed class despite being there. Vinca 18 hrs ago #42
I want to sign up for your class. Permanut 18 hrs ago #44
Geez Figarosmom 18 hrs ago #45
Lets hear it Cherokee100 17 hrs ago #47
gawd I'm glad I'm out mike_c 16 hrs ago #52
Jeezus. Joinfortmill 14 hrs ago #54
Is this class an elective or a requirement for a degree? fujiyamasan 9 hrs ago #57
IOW, ChatGPT couldn't figure it out for them. n/t flvegan 8 hrs ago #58
Graphic Organizers Scalded Nun 1 hr ago #62
"Ask a classmate who was paying attention when I gave instructions." Reader Rabbit 1 hr ago #63
Wow D_Master81 22 min ago #66
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